Ballymurn rocked by death of Tara
WEXFORD HAS been rocked by the shock sudden death of a young girl who was due to start her first year of secondary school this week.
Tara Bishop, of Ballina Upper, Ballymurn, passed away last Wednesday, which should have been her first day at school, following a sudden illness. She was laid to rest in Ballymurn Cemetery on Saturday afternoon, after her funeral mass in the Church of the Assumption and St Malachy in Ballymurn.
The young first year, who was an avid gymnast, is the daughter of Peter and Martina Bishop.
A past pupil of Ballymurn NS, she was due to start first year in the Presentation Secondary School, with two of her classmates from primary school.
She had attended an induction day earlier in the month.
School Principal in the Presentation Secondary School, William Ryan said that in a few short hours on induction day, Tara had made a very good impression on the teachers who said she had been very excited about starting her time in the school.
‘ The next we heard was that she had taken ill and then that she had sadly passed away. It’s a very sad start for us as a school community. Something like this affects a huge number of people. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bishop family and the local community in Ballymurn.’
Wexford Gymnastics Club paid tribute to Tara on social media, saying: ‘ Today, with great sadness, we remember Tara Bishop, one of our much loved club members who will be laid to rest this afternoon after her sudden passing last week. Tara would never pass you without a smile and a greeting and was an enthusiastic and successful participant in many of our club events over the years. Our deepest sympathies are with her family and friends at this devastating time. Rest in peace Tara, you’ll be greatly missed.’
Underage Gaelic football matches involving the local club Crossabeg/Ballymurn Ladies Football Club were postponed last week as a mark of respect to the Bishop family and to Tara.
Chairman of the club, Niall McDonald, explained that Tara had enjoyed Gaelic football and was training with the club, but had not joined as a member this year as it was too late in the season.
The under-12 team, which Tara’s friends and neighbours play on, was due to play a county final on Sunday but the game was postponed.
‘ Tara’s friends would play on that team and we said it be very hard for those girls to take to the field after such a tragedy.’
The Bishop family, he said, were very well known in the area and Tara’s aunt and uncle were coaches in the club.
Offering his sympathy to the family, Mr McDonald said: ‘It’s not right, it’s not fair. We’re all parents, we’re all family people; everyone has been affected by the suddenness of this. As a community, we’re at a loss for words but people rally around and support each other as best as they can.’
Tara is survived by her parents Peter and Martina, her sister Rachel, her brother Sean, grandparents, aunts, uncles, relatives and her many school friends.